Monali Misra, MD, FACS

So after much long research here on real self and other sites I decided to go with the Orbera ballon with dr Misra at Beverly Hills physicians. I was nervous the week leading up to it especially after reading so much stuff on the internet but I’d already made a decision. I started my liquid diet Saturday and Sunday and my procedure was done today which is Monday. I went in at 7:15am I was out of the office by 10am. It’s now 3:00pm and I just took a few sips of low sodium broth from a spoon (maybe 2-3 sips very small) and 1 very small sip of Gatorade and I feel something lol can’t say it’s pain or nausea. I’d like to say that if all the reviews I read I’m really trying to take it slow I was told I should be fine today u till later on tonight or in the morning then I may feel icky nauseous vomiting etc so I will keep you all posted . I’m excited I’m sitting propped up on my back I’m a little afraid to lay flat I feel then the acid reflux may start to bother me . I’m also very scared of when the effects will start . Dr misra is the best she’s so sweet and caring you can tell she loves what she does and gets joy out of seeing her patients happy I have her cell number I’m able to text her about anything and she texts me right back she’s definitely made this process easier pre op and post so far

Updated on 5 Dec 2017:
I feel queasy just staying in the bed I wanna get up and go but I feel I may get out and get a surprise of pain and vomiting. I threw up last night a little I had half a sugar free popsicle and 2 small sips of protein shake and it came up. More thank anything it’s just uncomfortable . I couldn’t get any sleep last night so I was very emotional but no pain yet I hope it doesn’t come . This morning I took maybe 4 tablespoons of some miso soup and a sip of water . The meds have been helping

Updated on 4 Jan 2018:
Almost 5 weeks out I’ve lost 15 pounds . I want to drop at least 20 more I haven’t been eating as clean as I should but definitely small portions . I feel great every now and then I have a uncomfortable feeling of the balloon sitting too high I’ve found drink something really warm and laying on my left side helps

I originally came here just to give my doctor a great review but decided I should add some information about my experience. Other people on this site have helped me a lot so maybe I can help someone else.

I've always been good about exercise but the amount I ate had gotten out of control. I was at a BMI of 31 and having no luck with diet and exercise. I originally looked in to getting a gastric balloon but was worried about gaining the weight back after it was removed. I've seen tons of reviews on here of people who loved their balloons but couldn't find many that gave long-term feedback. I decided to go for the sleeve because I wanted it to be permanent.

Here are my recommendations of products you should buy before surgery so your recovery is easier:
- Gas-x strips. They melt in your mouth and help reduce the painful gas you'll be dealing with after surgery. I was worried they'd cause heartburn because they're mint but I did not have that problem.
- Pepto Bismol or some other liquid heartburn medication just in case you have that issue.
- Icees/Popsicles. They give you flavor, hydration, reduce dry mouth and give you a few calories to keep your blood sugar up. You can also make small ice cubes out of juice.
- Heating pad for back pain. Even if your back never hurts, it probably will after surgery due to the way they position you during surgery and the gas that's pumped into you during surgery.
- Gatorade G2. It has fewer calories than regular Gatorade but will help keep you hydrated.
- Protein Water. I didn't even know this existed but it does and it's pretty good. It will help you keep your protein intake high when you can't eat solids yet.
- Jello. The first week I didn't worry about calories since I knew I'd be taking in so little but week two, when I was eating more pudding, yogurt, etc... I switched to sugar free.
- Protein Shakes. I recommend buying small amounts of different kinds so you can figure out which one you like best.
- Mederma or another scar care product. You can start using this as soon as your wounds close and it will help your scars to be less obvious.

My recommendations for after you're allowed solid food:
- Eat very slowly. I've thrown up a few times because I ate at my pre-surgery pace and the food couldn't go into my stomach fast enough. It wasn't that bad but it's easy to avoid.
- Chew each bite thoroughly.
- Bring high protein snacks with you so you're not tempted to eat junk. This will also keep you from getting overly hungry and eating more than you should. A little cooler with nuts, cheese, protein drinks, etc... can really make a difference in your day.
- Don't get discouraged if the weight comes off more slowly than you'd like. This is not a race! Your body and mind have a lot of recovering and learning to do. If you're low BMI like me you might not lose that many pounds the first month but you'll notice your clothing fitting differently.

It's a good idea to take before pictures and write down you're weight and measurements the night before surgery. I plan on doing all of that every month to see my progress. Even if you never share that information with anyone it will be nice for you to compare.

It's important to find a surgeon who has a good bedside manner. You'll have questions after surgery and knowing your doc is one you feel comfortable talking to is crucial. Dr. Misra has an excellent bedside manner and I appreciated it SO much when I was recovering.

I'm only a few weeks out from my surgery but I'll post more updates as I go along!